JOSEPH UPSIDE DOWN

Dear Saint Joseph,

There is a superstitious custom,
or the superstition, of burying your statue on the property which one hopes to buy
or sell, as you know.

For some reason, the statue is to be buried upside down, and removed once the property
is successfully secured.

In my own experience, a nun president
of an all-womens' college was said to have buried your statue in the dead of night
on a property the college hoped to acquire for expansion: the sale went through.

The origin of the custom is unclear,
but unlike many venerable religious practices, it is apparently not more than 200 years old.

When selling our house recently, a neighbor suggested that a statue be buried.

We demurred, and prayed to you instead.

You came through, Joseph, and I thank you
for that kindness. We sold our home successfully.

What a responsibility you had, Joseph:
You made a home in this world
for the Christ Child and for the Virgin Mary.
You sheltered the young Jesus and guided Him
as he grew to manhood.

We presume that Mary and Jesus were with you at the hour when you died, and so you
have been named the patron of a happy death.

Please, Joseph, shelter me from temptation, guide me always, and please, be with me
when my life comes to its end.

And I promise, Saint Joseph, never to consign your statue to the dirt!

Your spiritual child,

Amen.

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